Founders, look: I know it's a really rough time to try and raise money right now. You may be looking at options you would not normally consider. However, let me be very clear on something: if you are paying money for access to investors, then money is fundamentally flowing in the wrong direction. You won't meet quality investors this way. Investors who really put money into startups will meet with you for free (and will usually pay for your coffee).

@tprophet can confirm. As a VC I don’t let founders pay for the coffee.

Also, I dislike people who charge founders for access to capital. That’s a grift.